Fresh Market wants to move to New Town

Courthouse Commons will also feature pharmacy, bank on Monticello Ave.

May 19, 2010|By Dan Parsons, dparsons@dailypress.com | 247-7840

JAMES CITY — Traders Joes at New Town in James City County may be getting some competition from another specialty grocery store.

Plans to build a development directly across Monticello Avenue from Trader Joes likely will be considered by the county's Planning Commission next month, said Greg Davis, an attorney for the landowners, New Town 6 LLC.

The proposed development, called Courthouse Commons, will be anchored by a 26,000-square-foot grocery store into which the Fresh Market, currently located on Jamestown Road, will move, Davis said. The new store will allow the market to expand and likely will create more jobs, Davis said.

The land is already zoned for the proposed use, but because the grocery store exceeds 10,000 square feet, a special use permit is required by county ordinance.

Though tenants have not been finalized, space for a restaurant, a pharmacy and a bank are also being proposed.

"I think this is a good economic opportunity to have something like a pharmacy at this end of Monticello (Avenue)," Davis said. "There is not at present a pharmacy within walking distance of the residential developments at New Town.

Conditions of the permit will require the developers to improve Monticello Avenue to accommodate the increase in traffic volume created by the new development, Davis said. He expected the application would go before the Planning Commission within a month's time.